Thousands to join pro-Islam rally

[lovuian]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/4700482.stm

A mass rally by mainstream Muslims demonstrating against controversial cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad as a terrorist is to be staged.
Organisers told BBC News they are expecting at least 30,000 people to go to central London's Trafalgar Square.

Public figures from across the political spectrum are due to speak.

The event aims to explain the views of moderate Muslims towards cartoons published in a Danish newspaper which led to worldwide protests.

more...
Cartoons have started a big debate...

[Sarah Ibarruri]

1. Yes they have started a big debate.

A big debate as to whether or not the Arab/Muslims (who themselves use cartoons to disparage Hindus and their religion, and Jews) should demand the Danish press be censored.

[Briar]

2. Speakers included Jeremy Corbyn

...In his speech, which was met with cheers from the crowd, he said: "The only way our community can survive is by showing mutual respect to each other.

"We demand that people show respect for each other's community, each other's faith and each other's religion."

Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Teather described the cartoons as "a juvenile posturing exercise".

"Nothing was done to further the cause of liberal values or the freedom of speech - the publication of the cartoons was just plain racist," she added...

[Sarah Ibarruri]

3. Soon we won't be able to use cartoons against Bush and Cheney

Censorship is just lovely.

[liberalpragmatist]

4. Well, they have a right to protest

And to be offended. And they have a right to demand an apology from the publishers of the cartoon. But they don't have a right to violence and they don't have a right to call for the government to censor such publications.

[Harper_is_Bush]

6. Censorship? Demonstration&protest = censorship?

Soon we won't have right to demonstrate against Bush and Cheney.

:sarcasm:

[allemand]

5. Media a 'platform for racists' in cartoon row, says Ken Livingstone

London mayor Ken Livingstone has accused the media giving a "platform to racists" in its coverage of Muslim protests against cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad as a terrorist.

Mr Livingstone backed a Muslim protest against religious hatred to be held this Saturday in Trafalgar Square.

"I am supporting this event because, unlike some of the BBC's coverage, it will allow the views of the mainstream Muslim community to be properly heard," he said. (...)

"There is no getting away from the fact that this whole episode has allowed much of Europe's media to engage in an orgy of Islamophobia," the mayor said.

http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/topstories/display.var.686774.0.media_a_platform_for_racists_in_cartoon_row_says_ken.php

[Harper_is_Bush]

7. Amen.

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[allemand]

9. "Do not post broad-brush, bigoted statements."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules.html

[Sarah Ibarruri]

10. Facts are bigotry? Arab/Muslim papers publish anti-Jewish cartoons and

ridicule Hindus and their gods and goddesses, but mentioning that is bigotry? Very interesting.

[Chovexani]

11. Please read the first part of that statement.

And put that broad brush down, thanks.

Every single Arab/Muslim doesn't hate Israel, Jews, or Hindus, no more so than every single Christian is a mouth breathing Left Behind Falwellist.

If you can't grasp this very simple fact, maybe you should turn the computer off and go meet an actual Arab or Muslim.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

17. Arab/Muslims are demanding the Danes censor their press.

The answer to them should be NO. No debate. Simply NO.

As to your comment that not everyone agrees with every cartoon, that's correct. That has nothing to do with the Arab/Muslim demand that the Danes censor their press. Are Arab/Muslims are now going to be permitted to dictate how the rest of countries on the planet run their countries? It shouldn't even be remotely considered.

Just today on PBS I saw a documentary which included a public beating of an Arab woman. Excuse me but their countries are not only far from perfect, they are downright savage when it comes to the treatment of females.

Last of all, I understand that some Arab/Muslims are now threatening cartoonists in lands that are friendly to them. Singlehandedly they are turning everyone on the planet against them.

[smirkymonkey]

12. This is precisely what burns me up about this matter.

The fact that the Arab/Muslim press is violently racist, yet somehow, they think they have the right to demand that other nations and cultures unequivocally support the view that criticism of Islam must not be tolerated.

What a load of hypocritical bullshit. They need to get the fuck over the fact that not everyone wants to be dragged back into the 14th century with them. As far as respect goes, I have no respect - and I believe none is owed - to a culture that routinely calls for jihad, treats women & homosexauls worse than livestock and is so mired in intolerance and hatred of western democratic values, they can't even see the train wreck that is their own backward society.

[JCMach1]

15. Once again, more racist comments from a DUer

More fill in the blank

All Muslims are _______________________
The Arab press does ___________________

You need to wake the fuck up and get over the propaganda! A large percentage of the Arab world is part of the first world in terms of economy. On the political front, the movement is profoundly towards Democracy and most of the western values that go along with it.

Quit dealing in monoliths and beliefs, orientalism, and stereotypes of 'other' people and maybe, just maybe the U.S. can begin to move forward from the disgusting remenants of the planation age...!

[Trajan]

19. In all fairness ...

Many Arab regimes, while they may espouse a 'movement' towards 'democracy', generally harbor a population with mixed values regarding the west and the values of the 'Enlightenment' ..

I am atheist: .. I despise religious creedalism and its resultant loss of individual freedom no matter WHO the prophet, or the god ...

I hate Osama as much as I would have hated Riendfleisch ... The Taliban and Christian Reconstructionists are brethren in how they view the world, with the only difference being what world they view ...

As much as I hate ANTI muslim hatred, I also despise anyone who would deny freedom of thought: and there is no doubt that many who profess Islam also use the tenets of that abrahamic 'faith' to deny other beliefs ... Their worse in no better than any other worse ... and deserves just as much scorn for their poor behaviour as they deserve praise for their good behaviour ...

They are human, and subject to fair criticism ....

[JCMach1]

20. Criticism yes, racism, bigotry and hatred... no

Western culture has already won... if you live here for awhile, you would understand that. Politics, etc. are coming along as well.

[allemand]

18. Do you read Arabic? Farsi? Urdu? Bahasa Indonesia?

"The Arab/Muslim press", "they", "their culture" "their society". Be careful with that broad brush. It's so easy to be prejudiced.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

23. That broad brush has eyes which have seen plenty of anti-Jewish cartoons

And anti-Hindu cartoons. And anti-Hindu goddess and god cartoons. And plenty of threats executions of Arab women, beatings of Arab women, mistreatment of Arab women and little girls. And much more that makes Arab/Muslims not a good example of civil rights in any form.

[Trajan]

13. so why are you not condemning Hindus for their ANTI muslim bigotry ?

or Jews for their anti christian bigotry ?

or Christians for their anti-jew bigotry ?

why do you seem to be focused exclusively on condemnation of one specific group when ALL participate in such awful generalizations ?

Which brings me to another point: are ALL muslims bigots ? .... if they are not, then why do you condemn all of them ?

I have a sneaky suspicion that there is more than meets the eye here .... and that some serious, long held hatred is at work ..... focused hatred ......

[JCMach1]

16. Or the Hindu genocide perpetrated on the Sikhs...

There is enough death to go around.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

21. I've got a really great idea!

Why don't we leave one another's press alone?

Arab/Muslims are definitely no group to be talking about being "nice" to one another, when their religion and societies treat females like dog crap. Civil rights is a joke in these nations.

[JCMach1]

24. My dear, civil rights and liberties are currently a joke in the U.S.

Would you deny that?

Right wingers and governments righting NEW laws to limit any normal rights for gay people...
New limits on abortion and freedom of speech and assembly(remember those free speech zones)...
Should I go on...

The difference is that this part of the world is moving towards freedom and democracy. My homeland (the US) is moving backwards. Would you disagree with that statement? If you do, you haven't been paying attention.


Perhaps that's what upsets you so much. Should you ever take time to really learn about this part of the world, perhaps you would understand.

[Charles19]

22. Your missing the point Anti-anything is Ok

Just can't use pictures of the prophet Muhammad. Can't disprespect any of the prophets in Islam, including Jesus, Moses, Abraham, Adam, etc. So no you would not see Muslims ever disrespecting Jesus, or Abraham in a cartoon.

Critisizing Muslims is fine, critisizing Jews is fine and critisizing Christians is fine. None of us are above critisizm. However the prophets according to our belief in Islam cannot be disrespected.

[MrSlayer]

14. Good and while they are at it they can condemn the Muslim extremists.

Here is a grand opportunity for them to call a fatwa against those who kill in the name of Islam and demand an end to it.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

25. Good idea.

It might be time to declare a fatwa against Arab/Islamics who call for violence against newspaper cartoonists and others.

[Moderator]

26. Lock

This thread is about mainstream Muslims demonstrating against controversial cartoons. The thread has become a flamefest and totally off-topic.